Income Level to be Middle Income
Q. What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
Less than $40,000 |
6% |
13% |
4% |
1% |
1% |
3% |
– |
– |
$40,000-$59,000 |
31% |
35% |
34% |
28% |
7% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
$60,000-$79,000 |
38% |
32% |
41% |
47% |
21% |
27% |
25% |
15% |
$80,000-$99,000 |
15% |
12% |
14% |
17% |
28% |
26% |
33% |
29% |
$100,000-$119,000 |
3% |
2% |
4% |
3% |
20% |
14% |
21% |
26% |
$120,000-$149,000 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
11% |
9% |
8% |
17% |
$150,000-$199,000 |
* |
– |
– |
1% |
5% |
2% |
4% |
10% |
$200,000 or more |
* |
– |
– |
– |
1% |
– |
– |
1% |
Don’t know |
5% |
5% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
median |
$66,000 |
$60,000 |
$65,000 |
$69,000 |
$94,000 |
$83,000 |
$92,000 |
$103,000 |
69% of respondents think that “middle income” for a single person is between $40,00 and $79,000 a year. 38% think it is $60,000-$79,000.
80% of those earning under $1,000 pw think “middle income” for a single person is less than $80,000, while those on more than $1,600 pw are most likely to think it is $60,000-$79,000 (47%). The median (average) income for “middle income” for a single person is $66,000.
Estimates are more broadly spread when it comes to “middle income” families – 69% think it would be between $60,000 and $119,000. 65% think it would be at least $80,000. The median (average) income for “middle income” for a family is $94,000.
Income Level to be Well Off
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “well off” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “well off” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
$40,000 |
9% |
15% |
7% |
5% |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
$60,000 |
26% |
28% |
31% |
23% |
6% |
13% |
5% |
2% |
$80,000 |
28% |
25% |
27% |
33% |
15% |
21% |
17% |
10% |
$100,000 |
19% |
15% |
20% |
24% |
17% |
19% |
19% |
15% |
$120,000 |
7% |
5% |
6% |
9% |
16% |
12% |
19% |
17% |
$150,000 |
3% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
21% |
16% |
18% |
29% |
$200,000 |
1% |
* |
1% |
1% |
12% |
5% |
14% |
18% |
$300,000 |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
5% |
$500,000 |
* |
* |
1% |
– |
2% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
$1 million |
1% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
Don’t know |
5% |
6% |
4% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
1% |
median |
$69,000 |
$63,000 |
$67,000 |
$73,000 |
$111,000 |
$93,000 |
$107,000 |
$123,000 |
63% think that a single person earning $80,000 would be considered “well off”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “well off” was $69,000.
55% think that a family earning $120,000 would be considered “well off”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “well off” was $111,000.
Income Level to be Wealthy
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
$40,000 |
2% |
3% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
$60,000 |
6% |
10% |
4% |
6% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
* |
$80,000 |
15% |
17% |
20% |
10% |
4% |
7% |
3% |
2% |
$100,000 |
21% |
19% |
25% |
23% |
9% |
13% |
10% |
5% |
$120,000 |
14% |
11% |
15% |
17% |
9% |
10% |
13% |
6% |
$150,000 |
17% |
18% |
13% |
22% |
19% |
17% |
22% |
20% |
$200,000 |
10% |
8% |
10% |
11% |
22% |
20% |
16% |
32% |
$300,000 |
4% |
3% |
4% |
4% |
15% |
10% |
15% |
19% |
$500,000 |
4% |
3% |
6% |
3% |
9% |
9% |
11% |
7% |
$1 million |
3% |
3% |
1% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
4% |
7% |
Don’t know |
5% |
4% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
median |
$106,000 |
$102,000 |
$98,000 |
$113,000 |
$159,000 |
$146,000 |
$147,000 |
$182,000 |
58% think that a single person earning $120,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “wealthy” was $106,000.
66% think that a family earning $200,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “wealthy” was $159,000.

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